Russian Broadcasters Disrupted by Hackers Sending Unsolicited Birthday Greeting to President Putin
Fresh, Original Version:
Hey there! It's another wild day in the world of cyber wars, folks. Take a seat and let's dive into the chaos unfolding in Russia.
For two consecutive days, several TV stations and websites in the Motherland have been knocked offline due to what Russians are calling an "unparalleled" cyberattack on their digital infrastructure. And what a time to start this rampage—it all kicked off on October 7, which happens to be Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday.
On Monday, the website and digital streaming services of state-owned broadcaster VGTRK took a nose-dive. This wrecking ball swept away some big fish, such as radio stations and TV channels like Russia-1 and Russia-24. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, VGTRK fell victim to "an unparalleled hacker attack on its digital infrastructure."
Feeling the heat, VGTRK spilled the beans to Russian media, stating, "On the night of October 7, online services of VGTRK were targeted by an unparalleled hacker attack. Our specialists are working tirelessly to uncover the mystery and trace back the culprits."
As we speak, the websites of VGTRK remain dead silence. According to the Washington Post, state and local government-affiliated websites in Russia are also down in the dirt. The Telegram channel for the court in the Vladimir region announced their websites were unresponsive due to technical issues, leading to postponed hearings in various cities.
A group of hackers, the BO Team, appeared to claim responsibility for this digital onslaught, posting a message on Telegram that read, "Happy Birthday dickhead," followed by four smiling poop emojis. While Russian media didn't name the BO Team, they did cite Russian intelligence sources stating that a group of hackers backed by the Ukrainian government was behind the attack. However, the Ukrainian government has yet to claim responsibility.
The cyber war between Russia and Ukraine has seen quite a few skirmishes. Back in 2015, Russia launched a Trojan virus attack on Ukraine's power grid called BlackEnergy. They attempted a similar stunt on Christmas the following year. Ukrainian-linked hackers have hit Russian TV stations with cyberattacks more than once. On September 5 of this year, the U.S. government indicted five Russian GRU officers and one civilian, charging them with plotting to hack the Ukrainian government.
Picking Putin's birthday to launch such an attack wasn't just a coincidence. For years, opponents and would-be successors have used the Russian President's birthday to stir up trouble and send a strong message. Putin's critics often find themselves in trouble around October 7. In 2006, well-known Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated in the elevator of her apartment—she was a relentless critic of Putin.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
- The perceived hacker attack on VGTRK's digital infrastructure in Moscow has been linked to a group of hackers known as the BO Team, although the Ukrainian government has not yet taken responsibility.
- The future of technology in Russia is under threat, with several TV stations and websites, including VGTRK, suffering from unprecedented cyberattacks.
- The ongoing cyber war between Russia and Ukraine has led to various skirmishes, with tech-based attacks being a common tactic from both sides.
- Historic events, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday, are sometimes used as triggers for cyberattacks meant to make a strong political statement or stir up trouble, as seen in the case of the VGTRK hack.
